Sinai Temple began in 1931 when newlyweds Samuel and Helen Simons decided that Springfield, Massachusetts needed an alternative to the Orthodox and Conservative synagogues in the area. The last major congregation to have been founded in the community was Temple Beth El, which came into being in 1910. Although Sam Simons had grown up in Springfield without a Reform presence, Helen had grown up in a large Reform congregation in West Hartford. She and Sam wanted to bring that kind of religious opportunity to Springfield.
Services began in individual homes. After that a home was purchased on Sumner Avenue and remodeled to serve as home for the growing congregation. During the beginning years of the congregation, Rabbis David Eichhorn, Judah Cohn, and Hershel Levin led the congregation. Then, with the arrival of Rabbi Herman Elliot Snyder in 1947, a building drive led to the purchase of land at what was then the “outskirts” of Springfield. Ground was broken for the building Sinai now occupies on August 15, 1949. The building at 1100 Dickinson Street was completed in 1950. Not too long after that, the other Jewish institutions of Springfield followed Sinai so that they are now familiar landmarks at the Dickinson Street/Converse Street intersection: The Jewish Community Center, Jewish Geriatric Services, Heritage Academy plus Temple Beth El and Congregation Bnai Jacob.
Rabbi Snyder’s era, from 1947 to 1970, saw the congregation grow from 100 families to 450 families. With that growth came a Religious School, Hebrew and Bar/Bat Mitzvah instruction, a Cantor and choir, a well stocked library, and a commitment to community.
When Rabbi Snyder became Rabbi Emeritus, Rabbi Bernard Cohen guided the congregation through a year of transition. He was followed by Rabbi Stanley Davids (1971-1977), Rabbi Howard Kaplansky (1977-1983), and Rabbi Bernard Bloomstone (1983-1988). In 1979, Emily Sleeper Mekler came to the congregation as Cantor.
In 1988, Rabbi Mark Dov Shapiro arrived in our community. Rabbi Shapiro brought enthusiasm, a can-do spirit, along with a heartfelt traditional way of embracing Judaism, tzedakah, Torah, and social action. Rabbi Shapiro has overseen the beautification of the Temple; the establishment of a second endowment fund; the enrichment of our Religious School and the expansion of our social action programming. The Rabbi is also devoted to Torah Study and offers a weekly Shabbat morning class. During the Rabbi’s tenure at Sinai, many innovations have also taken place in the style of our worship.
Sinai Temple has also been blessed with excellent lay leadership, both male and female. Throughout the years, each president and his or her Board of Trustees have contributed much to the tenor and health of the Temple.
We hope you’ll want to learn more about Sinai. Call us, please. We are eager to welcome you into our community.